Wow, while this place lacks flair, it far exceeds fair! I've been scared of trying this janky-looking establishment out of fear of the wrath Montezuma would likely revenge upon my butt. Although the place looks like something to be feared, it is the closest restaurant to me, and last night I didn't want to venture far for my Mexican fill. After three months of driving by, I finally built up the courage to stop, and I am glad I did! Although the interior decor matches the plain and homely exterior, with no decorations except a few of the free posters and some mismatched tables and uncomfortable chairs, the food and service was among the best in town. First, the service. There were several waiters for this tiny establishment, and they could hustle. The drinks never went empty, and anyone who knows me, knows I drink a lot! Probably had five or six glasses of tea, and I never sat for even a moment, parched, at Platillo's. The hostess was nice and more-than-accommodating at one of my special requests. Next, I asked for hot sauce and jalapenos, as I often do, and the waiter asked, "Tabasco good?" I am not a big fan, but that seems to be number one standard in the industry, so I usually agree. However, on his own, he brought me the hotter, tastier, house sauce! Had he not took it upon himself, I would have never known it to exist. The only place to offer up a house hot sauce down here, and it is was worth that alone, because it was amazing. Which leads me to the food. The food was excellent! Homemade chips with great salsa. None of those bagged chips from the restaurant supplier. The salsa had a great deal of cilantro and was chunky like my girlfriend prefers, had the "wateriness" and and freshness I prefer. (However, still on the "too mild" side for my tastes, as is everywhere.) The salsa is is right between Los Asados and Las Vegas in taste and consistency. The sweet tea was great. The beans weren't my favorite, as I prefer them a little more runny, but to be fair the last few times I have ate at my other favorites, they too were more lumpy. The rice was good, but I've had orgasmic rice back home. My chalupa was good, right on par with everywhere else. The taco meat was the best I've had in a great long while, maybe the best ever. The enchilada was awesome, right on par with Las Vegas and Los Asados as the best enchiladas ever! The panchos were sub-par, I think it was their average cheese and their lumpy beans that bumped it down. My girlfriend loved her flank steak fajita, and she adored her mole. I tried the mole, and it was delicious (although I lack much experience for comparison on mole). They also provided our favored type of floured tortilla, rich and caramelized. One of the great tortillas, in my book. (I don't remember the other places with tortillas as good.) I also polished off her taco as she was full and their tacos can't be beat in the valley. I will be sure to visit again, as I am having a tough time sorting between Platillo's, Las Vegas, and Los Asados as "best in town". If you like these other two, give Platillo's a try. It might even be cheaper! Once again Harlingen has showed me to not judge a book by its cover: So many restaurants in the valley have taught me to not consider every eatery with a down trodden or plain appearance to be in cahoots with Montezuma. I've always liked "hole-in-the-wall", but also stayed away from places with holes in the wall. Yet, some of the best food in town is also very cheap. Cheap food, excelling in quality, served with great staff means the establishment has to give somewhere, so they give on decor plain and dilapidated establishments. Bonus: I learned that the stars on local restaurants are from a local news critic. So, watch for stars! read more

The service was amazing. It's a small restaurant so you better get here early. The food was pretty good. Will be coming back to Platillo's very soon. read more

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Service is always great. The food is delicious. I've been coming here over 20 years and still love it!! Great restaurant. Highly recommend

Recently met with a few friends visiting from San Antonio. They said to meet up with them at Platillo's before they went back. A very modest place with friendly staff. Very clean. We asked our waitress what she would suggest and she told us we would not go wrong with whatever we ordered. I had the Zarape with fajita and chicken. I would have thought that I was getting food from my friend's mother. This was the closest thing to a home cooked Mexican dinner that I can remember getting in a restaurant. We were a group of 7 and everyone was satisfied and happy after the meal. read more

We came here for weekday lunch since we were working/staying nearby. It was pretty crowded in the parking lot and inside. The service was good considering how meant people were trying to get in and out for lunch. I got the taco salad, and we shared queso + chips. The queso wasn't very good and reminded me of the fake cheese you'd get from the grocery store. The taco salad was just okay. The steak/fajita was a little chewy. We weren't super impressed and probably wouldn't go back. read more

Platillo's Mexican Restaurant - Taco salad - Mexican Near Me - Harlingen, Texas

Thanks to our fellow yelpers' for this new discovery. As others mentioned, the decor is minimalist, but the restaurant seems clean and the food, prices and service we're all very good. The chips are crunchy and the salsa is the fresh, cold variety. The flavor was perfect and it wasn't spicy at all nor did it have that soapy, cilantro taste. Beef taco plate was tasty and so we're the mole enchiladas. The pastor taco wasn't anything like pastor I've had at other places. It was just beef fajita. I thought they made a mistake, but the waiter insisted it was correct. Regardless, it still had a good flavor, but I wouldn't order it again. We'd eat here again. The food came out within minutes so this would be perfect for a quick lunch or dinner! read more

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Amazing food and friendly service!! We loved the Queso Flameado Con Chorizo. It's definitely a must try item. The chips were freshly made, delicious, and our waiter keep a full bowl at our table for the entire meal. read more

This is my favorite Mexican restaurant in harlingen. The food is always fresh,hot and delicious. The waiters are great and the owner is on site to guarantee the best experience possible. 5 stars. read more

This was my first visit. Had the mole enchiladas. Very tasty I thought the rice was very good as well as the beans. No real lemonade, only bad thing. Would definitely come here again. Oh, tacos al pastor aren't really that; they are more like fajita tacos. read more

Platillo's Mexican Restaurant - Mole enchiladas with rice and beans. Very good. - Mexican Near Me - Harlingen, Texas

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I ordered the beef Chile relleno and it was good. They give tortilla chips and salsa which were great. I will say I wish I ordered the cheese relleno because the beef tasted like a cheap taco meat but it wasn't bad. They give a big portion of rice and beans and the price was solid. read more

Fajita quesadillas are great. Normal fajitas are great. Girlfriends favorite restaurant in Harlingen and she's a local. Salsa is good, chips are good. The wait staff is very kind and helpful. Very much recommend. read more

This was from last year's trip. Away from the vacation crowd of South Padre Island, you get some pretty serious authentic food in town. Really good Fajitas (beef or chicken) in Harlingen. Probably one of the best authentic Mexican cuisine without crossing the border. Deliciosas fajitas (carne de res o pollo) en Harlingen. Probablemente uno de los mejores de la auténtica cocina mexicana, sin cruzar la frontera. read more

This was our first time here recommend by my aunt and it was so delicious!!! Great food, great service and homemade tortillas at a reasonable price! Definitely will be back for more. read more

Platillo's Mexican Restaurant - Carne guisada and tacos grande. - Mexican Near Me - Harlingen, Texas

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Food was alright very basic not tending to the need of a new generation of food plate presentation very bad or how can I say basic again.Service was horrible server likes to talk instead of working so the time of service is off chips are way to over cooked hard to chew and Obama care can't cover your teeth so don't eat them without dental plan. Salsa was good need a tad bit more salt.need to expand and discontinue some items and find better ways to cook food the right way Not flavor station read more

Been going here for years. This was our Family go to restaurant. Not anymore though.. This past Saturday my sister and I went there ordered our meals and sat and waited. Once the food came out it was not alone. By that I mean when the plate was set on our table this small german cock roach ran across our table. Sucks we really enjoyed this place but after that experience we will no longer be going back.. read more

Most important, ignore the outside of the building, the food here is good. Tortilla chips are not greasy as is the case at other Mexican Restaurants. Enchiladas Verde are very good and equal to any other place in down. Cheese enchiladas and carne asada about average. I am not a big fan of refried beans, but these are okay. Felix, the manager is usually out there to check on the food and service. Wait staff is almost always attentive to needs. Once, the table next to us were very demanding and kept our waiter tied up so another quickly stepped up and took care of needing an ice tea refill. If you are in the medical district of Harlingen, this is an excellent place to eat after a doctor's appointment or while visiting someone at either hospital. read more

Good quality food even when you're looking for vegetarian. I'd recommend it for anyone in the RGV area.

I work near Platillos and I always get the same thing enchiladas de mole and sweet tea. The chips and house salsa are super good and the waiters are always checking to see if you need a refill . read more

Let's begin with the food and its relation to true Mexican authentic delights. This restaurant not only had incredible eats, the wait staff is very attentive and will fulfill your any request at the table. The overall experience at Platillos is exquisite, with the flavor a of true Mexican cuisine and Mexican culture ambiance. If you're looking for a beyond par meal, do not hesitate when it comes to Platillos Mexican Restaurant. read more

Stopped here after a doctor's appt for lunch. Being from San Antonio and just recently moved here, have tried various restaurants trying to find something equal to food in San Antonio. I have just found it! Ordered a child's plate since I am a senior and it was absolutely fantastic. Tea was so refreshing, I had 3 glasses. The cheese enchillada, rice, and beans were served very quickly and was very tasty and HOT. Some of the other restaurants I tried in the area, food was served SLOW and almost COLD. Their chips and salsa served upon sitting down was excellent. Chips were hot and cooked by them. The salsa was also excellent. I ordered chili con queso to go so will see how that is. It will be hard to find and beat the old Monterey House chili con queso, they had the best. Prices were very reasonable and I will be back and bring my son and his wife. read more

This is a pretty casual Mexican place, and the food is pretty cheap and the portions are large, and the service is good, but that's about all I can say that's really positive... the food was pretty mediocre, not a lot of flavor to it, salsa was also pretty watery and tasteless. read more

Great food and very reasonably priced. Very fast and attentive service. My favorite in town

Excellent service very fast and a great value. Great tasting food. Loved the tacos al pastor, highly recommend them.

Ordered the botana for 2 and unfortunately we were pretty disappointed. I heard and read great things about this place and I was really hopeful. The botana was very small compared to other places. Aside from the rice, beans, and salsa everything else was served in a to-go plate. The fajitas and chicken tasted pretty bland... like if they just cooked them without any seasoning. The fajitas were what I was looking forward to the most and they were mediocre at best. The rice wasn't too bad and neither were the beans but they were lacking something. The salsa wasn't too flavorful either. The chips were pretty good. They don't serve tomato to go along with the avocado. I'm sorry to say the only thing I really liked was the cheese on the chips and the chips they served by themselves. From the pictures I've seen of the botanas it looked nothing like that. The food in other pictures looks delicious so maybe this just wasn't a good day? I really don't know but I'm just pretty bummed about my experience with the food. read more